halfway there...6 weeks to go

I have reached the halfway mark in my training for my first triathlon.  6 weeks before the big race!  Time to reflect on the past 5 weeks and refocus for the 6 weeks left of training.
Reflection:
Overall, the training has gone well.  Here is a little a bit of what I've learned (in no particular order):

• work out before I pick Wes up.  It's so hard to get back out in the evening after I've been home.
• Biking is by far the hardest part for me.  Not a fan of the stationary bike.  I have a new respect for Lance Armstrong.
• I still love to swim
• stretch my calves, often
• Must. have. music.
• don't feel guilty about taking 30 minutes to an hour for myself
• I have an awesome husband who takes care of Wes when I need to work out, and is so supportive of this goal.

Currently my times are as follows:
500 yard swim in 8 minutes
6 mile bike in about 25 minutes
2 mile run in 20 minutes

Now it's time to refocus and continue training hard for the next 6 weeks, even during Christmas break.  Here are some of my goals for the next six weeks:

• bike the 6 miles without feeling like I may die!
• practice doing the swimming to biking transition at least once
• workout at the East YMCA, since that is where the race is
• do a little weight training
• get new running shoes
• make an awesome playlist (feel free to send me song suggestions)
• continue to have fun training

You can rest assured that this will be included in my Triathlon playlist...
eye of the tiger

12 months

Sooo, I'm a couple weeks behind.  On November 14th, 2012 our Wesley Joel turned 1 year old!  The night before his birthday I cried as I laid him in his crib.  My baby isn't a baby anymore.  Once I had a good cry about how quickly time had gone with my baby, I was able to move on and completely enjoy my "toddler".  We spent Wes's birthday evening just the 3 of us.  We got Wes's favorite food for dinner: Lo Mein from Emperor's and he also got to enjoy a small chocolate cupcake.  We sang to him and let him go at it.  At first he was hesitant, so I let him taste it off of my finger.  He LOVED it, just like his momma.  So, what is Wes like as a 1 year old? 

Wes at 12 months:

• weighs 19 pounds and 13 ounces (10th percentile)
• is 27 and 3/4 inches long (10th percentile)
• is walking...and climbing! :)
• has 6 teeth (4 on top, 2 on the bottom)
• says "mama" especially when he wants something
• is just started to have some more words pop out here and there
• continues to jabber all the time, but it is changing and we are hearing more consonant and vowel variations
• likes to to be chased, but loves it when you "get him"
• has become a little more picky in his eating
• likes to play the game "I drop it, mommy picks it up" in his high chair and in the shopping cart
• has stranger anxiety (I first noticed this at his doctor's appointment, as he was very nervous around the nurse and doctor.  I mentioned that it was unusual for him to do this and the doctor said he would be more worried if he didn't show stranger anxiety)
• loves to climb all over daddy
• still nursing, but doing awesome on the weaning process.  We are down to 3 feedings.
• favorite toys: remotes, phones, balls
• has had 5 haircuts, with #6 scheduled
• constantly makes his mommy and daddy smile with his hugs and pats.

We continue to feel incredibly blessed to be Wesley's parents.  We are thankful for the past  year with Wes and look forward to many more.  Happy Birthday Wesley Joel!  You are so very loved!

And the moral of the story is...birthdays are a blessing from God!